When the usually optimistic David Beckham says the Galaxy played with “no fight or passion,” in last week’s 4-0 loss to Dallas, it’s a troubling sign for Los Angeles.

When you consider it’s been six weeks since the Galaxy won a game, it’s even worse.

But as the Galaxy prepares to play in San Jose today at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, a bigger question is whether anyone in this organization even likes each other enough to snap out of the current slump.

According to sources, general manager Alexi Lalas and coach Ruud Gullit do not enjoy a good relationship, which is not surprising because Gullit was not hired by Lalas. Instead, it was Beckham’s soccer advisor, Terry Byrne, who made the hire.

Byrne is best known in England as the former Chelsea equipment manager. He was also the masseuse for the England national team in 1998 and consoled Beckham in the locker room during the second half of the Argentina match, where Beckham famously received a red card.

Around the MLS, there is a question about who really runs the Galaxy. Sources said the team pondered trading midfielder Peter Vagenas and forward Carlos Ruiz in recent weeks but then changed its mind.

“Ruud Gullit cannot have the power that he has in the club because no club can give that much power to the coach,” said defender Abel Xavier, who was recently released by Gullit. “You take the risk of losing your identity when you give one person so much power.”

Gullit took offense to criticism by Xavier and struck back on Friday.

“It’s bad for a player to point the finger at somebody else,” Gullit said. “(Xavier) doesn’t stay long with many teams.

“I asked him an interesting question. Can you do what I ask you to do? He couldn’t answer that. It’s nothing personal. But he is a bad apple.”

Xavier said he confronted Gullit in the locker room after the Galaxy’s 4-1 loss at D.C. United in June because of the way he criticized the team.

“Ruud Gullit needs to understand he cannot treat players the way he does,” Xavier said. “Many things, the players don’t agree with Ruud Gullit’s actions. The way he expressed himself and conducted himself and the way he treats players with a lack of respect.

“Most of the players are not happy to be coached by Ruud Gullit. They are afraid to talk back because they have non-guaranteed contracts and can be traded.”

Are the Galaxy players afraid? Defender Chris Klein said he didn’t see any discontent with Gullit but acknowledged, “In general, the security of our players is not there.”

Gullit is known for disagreements with players. When he coached Newcastle, he stripped midfielder Rob Lee of captain’s duties, took away his jersey number, sent him to the reserve team and forced him to train alone.